Hello from the UK

Hi all, I am new to crossbows, and would like to learn more with a view to building my own. I have plenty of wooden longbow knowledge I am also a cabinetmaker so I have the necessary skills and tools for a bit of wood butchering I just need to pick your considerable collective brains to find out where to start. Man your going to need to be patient, I forsee a lot of replies featuring and .

"Wood butchering" indeed! You guys onlt see the bows that don't REALLY get butchered...

Poor Geezer... we threw out many an unusable stock early on... He would say to me: "It's only wood. We have more" when I would be staring in despair at a bit of wood destined now only for the hearth, or binding blocks.

Thanks Chaps,I have been looking at the posts and I have decided to buy a 150lb fiberglass prod from ebay, and build a bow around it. trying to keep evrything as simple as possible (about my limit anyway ) I'll be asking questions when I get it.As for my longbows, they were all English pattern, made from laminated staves some of which I brought and some I glued up myself. All were in the 40-50lb draw weight except for one 70lb for clout shooting. I'll see if I can dig out some pics for you. but they were not anything special. most longbows look very similar anyway.I also enjoyed making arrows, and wonder if crossbow arrows are the same. spine, centre of gravity, weight. etc. or are they not as critical? either way i'll be making my own. Also having seen the exceptional workmanship on these pages, I will have to get my best cabinetmaking trousers on to keep up with you guys.once again thanks for the welcome Rat.